Dynamic optical coherence tomography device and method

ABSTRACT

An imaging device and method is shown to image ocular tissue in motion. Devices and methods include at least one target to align the patient&#39;s eye at a desired angular orientation, multiple selectable target locations, and control circuitry to display the target at the multiple target locations and image ocular tissue at each multiple target location.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/775,537,filed on Sep. 11, 2015, which is a U.S. National Stage Filing under 35U.S.C. 371 from International Application No. PCT/US2014/026733, filedon Mar. 13, 2014, and published as WO 2014/160468 A1 on Oct. 2, 2014,which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/780,443, filed on Mar. 13, 2013,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to ocular imaging.

BACKGROUND

Ocular imaging is useful in diagnosis and treatment of a number ofconditions. New imaging techniques such as ultrasound imaging, magneticresonance imaging, confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography(OCT) are leading to a better understanding of ocular tissue. Everyimaging technique includes advantages and disadvantages. For example,ultrasound imaging has poor resolution in comparison to opticalcoherence tomography, and confocal microscopy does not providesufficient imaging of depth of tissue. OCT provides up to millimeterdepth penetration. Although OCT imaging is useful, improvements aredesirable to provide more detailed information to characterize oculartissue, especially as relates to motion. OCT as currently configureddoes not show the effect of movement on tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an ocular imaging device according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a method of using an ocular imaging device according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown,by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantiallysimilar components throughout the several views. These embodiments aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized andstructural, or logical changes, etc. may be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an ocular imaging device 100 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. A patient's eye 102 is shown in relation to other blockdiagram elements of the device 100. One of ordinary skill in the art,having the benefit of the present disclosure will recognize that anynumber of possible fixtures such as chin guides, forehead pads, etc. maybe used to locate the patient's eye 102 within the device 100.

The device 100 further includes an OCT imaging device 110. The OCTimaging device 110 acquires images of ocular tissue within the patient'seye 102 along imaging direction 111.

The device 100 further includes at least one target 112 to align thepatient's eye 102 at a desired angular orientation. FIG. 1 shows fourpossible targets 112 as an example although, as described below, otherexamples are also within the scope of the invention. The targets 112align the patient's eye 102 along the illustrated paths 120-126.

Multiple selectable target locations A-D are also shown in FIG. 1 . Inone example a single target 112 is movable between the multipleselectable target locations to align the patient's eye 102 along aselected path 120-126. In another example, multiple targets 112 arelocated at each target locations A-D, and a selected target 112 isactivated, while other targets 112 are deactivated. For example, an LEDlight may be located at each target location A-D, and only a selectedLED light is turned on at a time in order to orient the patient's eye102 along a selected path 120-126.

Control circuitry 114 is further shown in FIG. 1 to display the targetat the multiple target locations A-D. In one example, the controlcircuitry 114 aligns the patient's eye 102 at a desired target locationA-D and also signals the OCT imaging device 110 to image ocular tissueat each selected target location A-D.

In operation, by selecting targets 112 at different target locations A-Dand imaging at a desired frequency, ocular tissue can be imaged inmotion. For example, fixed tissue that is attached to the patient's eye102, will move with the eye 102 as the target 112 moves. However, morefluid components in the eye 102 will flow, and behave differently whenimaged using the dynamic configuration described and shown in FIG. 1 .

While a number of advantages of embodiments described herein are listedabove, the list is not exhaustive. Other advantages of embodimentsdescribed above will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art,having read the present disclosure. Although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentshown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations orvariations of the present invention. It is to be understood that theabove description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments will beapparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription. The scope of the invention includes any other applicationsin which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. Thescope of the invention should be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ocular imaging device, comprising: an opticalcoherence tomography imaging device; an optical alignment systemincluding at least one target; control circuitry coupled to the opticalalignment system to align f the patient's eye and to cause ocular tissuemotion; and control circuitry coupled to the optical coherencetomography imaging device to image ocular tissue in motion.
 2. Theocular imaging device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry isconfigured to move a target in the optical alignment system betweenmultiple target locations at a frequency sufficient to provide contrastbetween fixed tissue and viscous ocular components.
 3. The ocularimaging device of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configuredto move the target in the optical alignment system between multipletarget locations at a frequency in a range of approximately 10 to 20locations per second.
 4. The ocular imaging device of claim 2, whereinat least two target locations are in a range of approximately fourdegrees apart.
 5. The ocular imaging device of claim 2, wherein a singletarget is moved between the multiple selectable target locations.
 6. Theocular imaging device of claim 1, wherein multiple targets are locatedat multiple selectable target locations, and wherein during operation,individual targets are activated and deactivated to select a desiredtarget location.
 7. The ocular imaging device of claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is configured to activate a series of target locationsin the optical alignment system in stepwise advancement.
 8. The ocularimaging device of claim 1, further including machine readableinstructions to generate a movie of ocular tissue motion using imagesgathered during movement of the patient's eye.
 9. The ocular imagingdevice of claim 8, wherein the machine readable instructions utilizeblood vessel patterns in the patient's eye to align multiple frameswithin the movie.